CHILDREN sang carols round their village to help pay for the training of guide dogs.

Pupils at Ridgeway Primary School, in Childrey, raised £160 by going door-to-door during the Christmas holidays for the charity Guide Dogs.

And yesterday, Pauline Fretter from the charity visited the school with trainee puppy Ella to receive the cash.

Foundation teacher Shelley Howell said: “The visit was a great way for the kids to be made more aware of where the money they raised is going.

“A vote was held to decide which charity should get the cash and Guide Dogs won because they had visited us before to explain their work.

“We held an assembly to show the whole school what they had taught us during their visit, things like not stroking a dog when it’s working.

“We would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who helped.”